Detonating firework composition



Patented July 22, 1930 {cams stares JERSEY No Drawing. 1

us, potassium chlorate'and an organic bind-' ingmaterial, such as shellac or gum. i

In order to avoid the use of thepoisonous yellow phosphorus, it has been proposed to employ sulphur phosphorous compounds and v particularly sesquisulphide of phosphorus as the "active agent with an oxygen producing element in the form of potassium. chlorate, 0 the compound being bound in intimate mixture by a ceme'ntitious binder comprising magnesium chloride and magnesium oxide. It has been found, however, that such form of binder is not altogether satisfactory for the reason'that the magnesium chloride ingredient thereof-being very hygroscopic, the.

finished article is sensitive to climatic changes, tending to crumble'and deteriorate especially in damp or humid weather.

In my c'opending-application, Serial No.

238,467 filed December 7, 1927, there is dis-' closed a fireworlicomposition that produces asuccessi'onof explosive detonations or reports during combustion and i which is "not sensitive tomoisture and is non-hygroscopic.

It is the primary object of the present invention to 'provide'an improved composition of the kind described in my above mentioned application which composition is non-poison- 40 ous and not'sensitive to moisture and which therefore will not readily deteriorate under changlng cllinatic or weather condltions, but Wlll remain firm and hard at all times so as p to be properly operative when put to the use for which itxisj intended; and to this end mearea-ms;

WILLIAM F. GEHRIG, on BEBKLEY rrnren'rs, NEW JERSEY, A'SSIGNOR r0 ssex sun,-

GIALTY co ine, or ,BEBKLEY HEIGHTS, NEW

JERSESCA conronnrron or New nEroua'rrire :srnuwonx ooivrrosrrroiv Application filed March 12, 1929. Serial um 346,498.

use is made ofbinder and hardening ingre l' dients ofthe composition comprising a mix ture of alum such as chrome alum and 'me tallic oxides, for example magnesium oxide and ferric oxide. This composite binder and hardening agent of this invention is non-hygroscopic,andproduces a-hardinorga-nic cementitious material or carrier through which the phosphorous sesquisulphide and oxygen producing materials may be dispersed and retained in that closely incorporated relatlon necessary to effect the character of com-. bustlon producing the successive or intermit tentsmall explosions or reports ratherthan relatively slow flaming and free burning combustion which it is desired to avoid.

. Another object of the present invention is to provide a firework composition which will give a maximum number of intermittent detonations during the combustion thereof.

In order to obtain the greatest number of intermittent detonations from a given mass of composition, a dlsperslve agent is used in,

sufficient quantity to facilitate the complete anduniform dispersion of the phosphorus sesquisulphide particles throughout the'mass of the compositionl An aqueous solution of asuitable gumsu ch as gumarabic is employed as the dispersive'agent, the amount of gum used being just sufficient to facilitate the dispersion soas to place the composition in a colloidal state, the various ingredients thereof being held in mechanical suspension by the aqueous gum solution. The phos-' ric oxide, potassium chlorate and phosphorus sesquisulphide. To this mixture is added magnesium oxide, whereupon the mixture is then formed into discs or other shapes or spread on a suitable surface and dried.

As an example of the composition of this invention, the ingredients are mixed together in the following proportions by weight Parts Potassium chlorate r 25 Magnesium oxide '35 Chromium potassium sulphate 5 Sesquisulphide of phosphorus 8 Ferric oxide r rr rr v 5 Gum arabic l 2 lution and then twenty five pounds ,of potassium chlorate is also mixed into this solution. To this mixture, eight pounds of sesquisulphideof phosphorus preferably in granulated form is then added and intermixed therewith. To theresultantrrnixture of chrome alum, ferric oxide, potassium chloratecand phosphorus sesquisulphide is added. the previouslyprepared gum arabiqsolution. jThirty five pounds of magnesium oxide is then added and theresulting mixturethoroughly agitated until all materials are in a colloidal state, the gum: arabic solution acting tov hold the other ingredients inmechanicalsuspmsion. After'the paste iscthus produced, itis placed under slight pressureinmolds and then allowed to dry over night at atemperature varying from 8.0 to90 degrees Fahrenheit, or the paste may be deposited on paper strips or sheets in the form of segregated spots or pellets,or the pasteniay be deposited on a fuse material; in-anycase Whendried the same will provide a combustible composition which, when ignited will burninsuch manner as to produce therdesiredlseries-of rapid succession of detonations or explosions.

The composition thus produced,will,when dried,.provide a relatively'hard dense mass which is non-hygroscopic so that it keeps Well 7 under variations of climatic or weather. ,con-

ditions, is not subject to spontaneouscombustion, and will remain properly operative for the purposes intended. The hardening of the composition is due to the interaction of the composite binder constituents. During and after the drying process, thechrome alum evidently reacts in the proportions given with the magnesium and ferric oxides toform metallic oxy-sulphates which are of consider- I able hardness and are similar in characteristics to the metallic'oxy-chlorides which are present in certain cements. These metallic oxy-sulphates render the composition hard and resistant to moisture and also aid in sep arating particles of phosphorus sesquisulphide so as to thereby restrain the burning of the material and obtain intermittent detonation. Any excess of oxides merely serves as a filler. The potassium chlorate furnishes oxygen to support the combustion after ignition has taken'plaee.

The composition of the kind described possesses, in addition to the keeping qualities above mentionecha thoroughdispersion of the phosphorus sesquisulphide, a tenaciOusadhesion of all constituents of the composition one to the other owing. to the cementing action of the composite binder, and the highly desirable advantageof being free from poisonous substances.

While in the above illustrative table: there is given the relative proportions; of .thETSGV- eral ingredients ofthecomposition, it willibe understood that variation Of,t'l16St&l38CljPl'O- portions may be made within reasonable limits. For, example, by increasingthe relative proportion of potassium chlorate with'proportionate decrease of magnesium-and. ferric'oxidesand chrome alum, the action'of the firework will be speeded up, i.; e.-the'-combus tion thereofaccompanied :by the detonations will be more-rapid; while; on the-otherhand, by decreasing the relative proportion :of-po tassium chlorate with proportionate, increase in magnesium-and ferric OXldGS'ELIldTCllIOIIlG alum, the action of the firework-will be slowed down, i. 1 e. the combustion thereof accompanied :by thedetonations will beg-slower.

Changes in the balance of the other ingredienst within reasonable limits may be also made while still'attaining the purposes and function'of the composition within the-scope and spiritof this invention.

It will be'noted that the compositionof the instant-invention is to be distinguished from the composition in my: aforesaid copending application in thatthe inclusion-of the gum ingredient serves to produce a betterand more uniform dispersion of the phosphorus compoundand the oxygen supplying agent, particularly since the gum solution acts to put the composition in 'a colloidal condition wherein the ingredients above mentioned'are more thoroughly and uniformly dispersed and segregated in small particles or globules 1 throughout the mass of the mixture. For this reason, the composition of the instant invention may be considered a specific improvement over'my copending application and'a development of the latter serving to produce a better composition from a manufacturing and commercial standpoint.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A non-hygroscopic firework 'compo r tion adapted to produce successive detonav tions when ignited, comprising at least one sulphur-phosphorus compound as its active agent, at least one chlorate for producing oxygen, a composite binder comprising a metallic oxide and an alum, and gum as a dispersive agent.

2. A non-hygroscopic firework composition adapted to produce successive detonations when ignited, comprising at least one sulphur-phosphorus compound as its active agent, at least one chlorate as the oxygen producing substance, an inorganic binder consisting in magnesium and ferric oxides and an alum, and gum as a dispersive agent.

'3. A non-hygroscopic firework composition adapted to produce successive detonations when ignited, comprising a mixture of the herein named ingredients in approximate proportions as follows:

Parts Potassium chlorate -1 Magnesium oxide Chromium potassium sulphate 5 Sesquisulphide of phosphorus"; n 8

25 Ferric oxide 5 Gum arabic 2 In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand 30 this 28th day of February, 1929.

WILLIAM F. GEHRIG. 

